The HP DesignJet printers print at an acceptable speed, which is definitely faster than any Epson or Roland printer. It is only their Postscript RIP software which is unnecessarily slow.

A year ago we at FLAAR initially tested the HP DesignJet 3500CP and by extension the HP 2500CP, which is the same printer with just an extra 36". Since the HP DesignJet 3550CP had only its internal RIP it wa s very slow. But if you add an after-market RIP, such as PosterJet, you can speed things up immediately.

A single RIP can power both simultaneously. CAI Director John Nagel said that for an image that might have previously taken up to 30 minutes to RI P now RIPs in about 3 minutes. He also reported that their image quality had improved since the RIP software ma de it easier to set the printer for the maximum number of passes. The prints did come out slower, but with better image quality.

Nagel used 3M Cactus, which was a good RIP several years ago, but that type of RIP has recently been abandoned. A better RIP to use is PosterJet. FLAAR’s lab technician prefers this RIP out of our other six. It is easy to use, works with both Macintosh and PC, and is lightning fast.

If you have a HP 2500, 3500, or even the newer HP 800ps or 5000ps, and are tired of waiting for them to RIP, then power your system with any of the software RIPs that can RIP while printing.

The fastest growing segment of the wide format market, in addition to signs, banners, and posters, is fine art exhibition prints. The HP 2500 and 3500 were not originally intended or marketed for fine art prints. But if you are knowledgeable, have an especially good image to start with, an d know how to prepare your image in Adobe Photoshop you can produce an exhibit print.

These prints are not intended to replace, fine art or fine art giclee prints from an Iris, Roland, I-Jet, HP 5500, and ColorSpan printers, but many institutions prefer the advantages of a readily available local HP service. We know several people who have HP 2000, 2500, 2800, 3000, 3500, or 3800cp printer who produce fine art giclee.

For more information on the HP 2500, 3500, newer HP 800 and 5500, and especially to learn how to obtain a demo of PosterJet.

Color DNA is a national provide r of HP printers. They specialize in HP DesignJet printers for signage, CAD, GIS, photos, and general applications.

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